Title: Far From Revered

Full Summary: There is a secret world of mages all over the world, the underground crime syndicates of the time. In Magnolia Town, the mages hide under the ruse of Fairy Academy, the most renowned private school in Fiore. This is world the young members of Fairy Tail grow up in, where they learn to trust in only their friends and develop the bonds of friendship, as a creeping darkness slowly threatens all that they hold near.

Pairings: Through the perspective of LevyxGajeel.

Disclaimer: The first two chapters are "setting chapters," to fully develop the details for future reference. If you want to skip, then onto the next chapter you go.

Far From Revered

by Luey

Chapter One - "Introductory Assembly"

Welcome to Fairy Academy, the most prestigious school in all of Fiore.

The large campus is situated perfectly at the edge of Magnolia Town, its three-story buildings towering lazily over the other citizens. Walking along pleasantly gray cobblestone walkways that lead up to (and snake through) the campus, students are led up to the swirling designs of double-wrought-iron gates, which are only open to students and faculty members.

Passing the decorous gates, students will then be able to see that they open into a friendly, lush courtyard. Behind the trees and the well kempt grass and bushes, the main building comes into view. It is a large rectangular building, its main face featuring a face clock with the school's insignia, painted in a blazing red, overhead.

Despite Fairy Academy's large size, looking upon its slightly-peachy painted walls one assumes that the whole facility is a frankly unpresuming building structure. And perhaps that works well in the school's favor, for it holds a deep secret.

Although the Academy accepts students anywhere from primary to tertiary education levels, about one hundred of these students participate in "extracurricular activities," which are highly dangerous and ultimately scandalous.

For, you see, these students possess the uncanny ability to perform magic. Identities of the magic users—or rather, "mages"—are kept secret to avoid a general public outcry. Because every citizen in Fiore is aware of magic and its highly destructive tendencies, they fear for their own safety. And for their own peace of mind, their idea of a basic mage is at least an adult.

Far be it for schools to come out and say children are risking their lives, schools have become something like the organized crime syndicates of the day. "Guild Members," as the young mages are called, take on various jobs that call upon ability users. These jobs, posted on a request board in the main hall of the guild, are requested by a number of people.

Many jobs, however, are taken under the pretense of being a "mage-in-training" (a half-truth, really) needing experience. Should younger mages desire to take on a more dangerous mission, he or she would take care and use a cloaking devise to hide his or her true age.

The payment for each request job taken is usually in the form of monetary payment. Though the majority of the payment is used for school dues, it is expected that the members of guild stay a lifelong member and contribute to various activities throughout his or her lifetime.

And the members of the Guild, suitably named "Fairy Tail," feel no qualms about their beloved guild.

The old man stood on the roof, smiling wryly to himself. His arms were crossed over the fencing, his chin resting lazily on his right forearm. It was a new school year, and he watched the new students slowly trickle into the main building, occasionally chuckling at the disgruntled faces of those who were forced to wake up for school that started way too early.

(It actually started at eight o'clock, which happened to be a regular time for school to start, really. These particular students had been woken up an hour early by their mothers who wanted them at school as early as possible.)

There was a faint click as the steel door leading up to the roof opened, yet he didn't have to turn around to know who it was. Only two people besides himself arrived at school early enough to be fully awake and functioning by seven in the morning. At least that's what the young woman placated the man with, knowing full well that he liked to owe his "sixth sense" to his "supertastic magic skills." In those exact words.

Mirajane smiled as she walked up to the man, who was standing up on a large wooden crate in order to reach the top of the fence. Though she was old enough to be going on to the college level at Fairy Academy, she chose to forgo her future of being a professional mage or any other profession. Instead, she decided to fill the position of Secretary-Treasurer, as well as taking over the duties of a MIA vice-principal.

"Good morning, Principal," she greeted cheerfully. Really, she felt that she had to be cheerful. It was in her best interest to keep the spirits up at the school. No, it was to keep up the spirits of Fairy Tail. Sure, the secret guild was usually a large bunch of rowdy and rambunctious school kids, and it was hard to get them down. But a lot had happened during the summer, and any sadness would bring about an unforgivable and uncharacteristic lull in the Guild.

Several things seemed to happen at once, or at least with quick succession. It all started with the destruction of their home, the secret Fairy Tail base. (But that's another story.) Then, previous vice principal, the potential successor to the Principal title, Laxus Dreyvar was lost. Mirajane still knew the Principal harbored the secret desire to un-banish his only grandson from the school and the guild.

Every other candidate, including herself, had proved too young to take on the now vacant responsibility. Still, the guild was livelier than ever, now, with a few new additions to the memberships to counteract the tremendous losses. (Including two talking cats, which was certainly a plus!)

The master of Fairy Tail looked up and grinned enthusiastically. "Good morning, Mirajane. It's a good time to start the school year, eh?"